Starting block



Dec. 12, 1950 C. J. BROUWER ET AL STARTING BLOCK Filed Nov. 8, 1948 Patented Dec. 12, 1950 STARTING BLOCK Clarence J. Brcuwer and Irvin J. Drake, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application November 8, 1948, Serial No. 59,004.

8 Glaims.

llhis invention relates to improvements in starting blocks for athletic events.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide starting blocks for athletic events which may be used interchangeably by runners who prefer to start with either the right or left foot forward.

Second, to provide starting blocks which are easily adjustable for various starting positions and which provide solid abutments for the runners feet.

Third, to provide starting blocks which must be adjusted each time they are positioned so that there is no tendency for the individual runner to accept and use a previous adjustment which may be slightly different from the adjustment most desirable for himself.

Fourth, to provide starting blocks which are easily handled and moved about an athletic field and Which occupy a minimum of space.

Fifth, to provide starting blocks having indicia thereon for indicating the spacing of the blocks.

Other objects and advantages relating to the details of the blocks will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the attached drawings. The invention is further pointed out in the claims.

The drawings of which there is one sheet, illustrate a preferred form of the starting blocks.

Fig. 1 is a prospective view of the blocks in opertive position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view through the blocks.

It is a well recognized fact that contestants in foot races of various types and distances can start faster and therefore achieve better records if they have solid abutments known as foot blocks against which they may push in starting a race. Most interscholastic athletic associations now recognize the use of starting blocks and it is the purpose of this invention to provide starting blocks which can he maintained by the various teams as a standard article and used for both practice and competition by various runners having various personal running and starting habits and positions.

As illustrated in the drawings, the starting blocks consist of a forward block i secured to a longitudinal rod 2 as by the screw 3. Slidably mounted on the rod 2 to the rear of the forward block I is a rear block 5 having right and left inclined starting faces 5 separated by the recess E. The recess is adapted to receive the rear end of the front block i when the blocks are collapsed for handling and storage and since the front block is non-rotatably secured to the rod 2, both blocks will be held against rotation in their collapsed position. The front block l is provided with an inclined starting pad 7 which is preferably of slightly less slope than the starting pads 5.

The lower or outer end of the screw 3 is shaped in the form of an anchor pin 3 and the rear block i. is provided with a pair of pins 9 screwed into the underside of the block near the ends thereof. The rear end of the rod 2 is provided with a knob ii! so that the rear block will not accidentally be lost therefrom and the top surface of the rod 2 is provided with a series of indicia marks I l by means of which the individual runner may easily determine the spacing between the front and rear starting pads and by practice determine the spacing which is most suitable to his particular style of running.

The rear block A is desirably freely slidable on the rod 2 so that it may conform to various minor variations in the surface of the running track and so that each time a runner approaches the starting position and sets the starting blocks which may have become loosened from a previous race, he will be required. to set the spacing of the blocks and in this manner will always set them to the spacing most desirable for himself. If the rear starting blocks were fastened in any way to the rod 2 there might be a tendency for some runner to accept and use an adjustment of the blocks made by a runner who had previously used them, which adjustment might not be the most favorable one for the second user.

We have thus described a highly practical form of our starting block so that others may reproduce and use the same without further disclosure. Obviously the blocks may be formed of light metal, wood or other materials as is desired without departing from the theory of our invention.

Having thus described our invention what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Starting blocks for athletic events comprisa front block having a forwardly inclined starting pad and an anchoring pin projecting from the bottom thereof, a rod non-rotatably secured to said front block and projecting to the rear thereof, a rear block slidably and rotatably mounted on said rod and having right and left inclined starting pads on the forward face thereof separated by a recess adapted to receive the rear end of said front block, anchoring pins projecting from the bottom of said rear block, and a knob on the rear of said rod, said rod having an indicia scale thereon cooperative with said rear block to indicate the spacing between said front and rear starting pads.

2. Starting blocks for athletic events comprising, a front block having a forwardly inclined starting pad and an anchoring pin projecting from the bottom thereof, a rod secured to said front block and projecting to the rear thereof, a rear block slidably mounted on said rod and having right and left inclined starting pads on the forward face thereof separated by a recess adapted to receive the rear end of said front block and anchoring pins projecting from the bottom Of said rear block, said rod having an indicia scale thereon cooperative with said rear block to indicate the spacing between said front and rear starting pads.

3. Starting blocks for athletic events comprising, a front block having a forwardly inclined starting pad and an anchoring pin projecting from the bottom thereof, a rod secured to said front block and projecting to the rear :thereof, a rear block slidably mounted on :said-rod and having right and left inclined starting pads on-the forwardface thereof separated by a recess adaptedto receive the rear end of .said 'front block, and anchoring pins projecting from the Jcottom of said rear block.

4. Starting blocks for athletic events comprising, a front block having a forwardly ir." clined starting pad and an anchoring pin projecting from the bottom thereof, a rod secured tosaid front block and projecting to the 'rear thereof, a rear block slidably mounted on :said rod andhaving right and left inclined start ing pads on the forward face thereof.

:=5.:Starting blocks for athletic :events comprising, a front block having a forwardly in clined starting pad and an anchoring pin projecting from the bottom thereof, a rod secured to said front block and projecting to the rear thereof, a rear block slidably mounted on said rod and having right and left inclined starting pads on the forward face thereof, and an anchoring pin projecting from the bottom of said rear block.

'6. Starting blocks for athletic events comprising, a front block having a forwardly inclined starting pad, a rod secured to said front block and projecting to the :rear thereof, a rear block slidably mounted on said rod and having right and left inclined starting pads on the forward face thereof, and means on the under surfaces of said blocks engageable with a supporting track to resist rearward thrust on said blocks.

'7. Starting blocks for athletic events comprising, a front block having a forward starting pad, a rod secured to said front block and projecting to the rear thereof, a rear block slidably-mounted on said rod and having right and left starting pads on the forward face thereof, and means on the under surfaces of said blocks engageable with a supporting track to resist rearward thrust on said blocks.

.8. Starting blocks for athletic events comprising, a front block having a forwardly inclined starting pad and an anchoring pin projecting from the bottom thereof, a rod nonrotatably secured to said front block and projecting to the rear thereof, a rear block slidably and rotatably mounted'on said rod and having right and leftinclined starting pads on the forward face thereof separated by a recess adapted to receive the rear end of said front block, anchoringpins projecting from the bottom of said rear block, and a knob on the rear of said rod, said rod having an indicia'scale thereon cooperative with said rear block to indicate the spacing between said front and rear starting pads, the inner end of said-anchoring pin on said front block being engaged with said rod to lock said rod in said block against longitudinal and rotary motion.

CLARENCE J. BROUl/VER. IRVIN J. DRAKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,785,963 Nicholson et al. Dec. 23, 1930 1,793,898 Barron Feb. 24, 1931 2,323,510 Arnett July 6, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 94,90 Sweden Mar. 1, 1939 

